Several musicians with ties to Vancouver Island have been nominated for numerous awards at the 2026 Junos.
The full list of Juno nominees was announced this week by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The list includes 248 nominations across 47 categories.
Of those nominated, three artists have ties to Vancouver Island, and received a collective total of eight nominations.
The most recognized of the three artists is Cameron Whitcomb who received five nominations himself, plus one nod to his album artwork.
Whitcomb is originally from Nanaimo, and is one of the leading nominees for 2026 with nominations for TD Juno Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year.
He initially gained national attention for his performances on American Idol and is known for his gritty vocals and emotionally driven songwriting. Whitcomb’s music blends folk, rock and Americana influences.
The Hard Way was his debut full-length album, and covers themes of Whitcomb’s struggle with mental health issues and addictions from a young age.
Whitcomb tied with The Weeknd for second most nominations, coming just behind Tate MacRae and Justin Bieber who had six nominations apiece.
In addition to Whitcomb’s five nominations, AP Dhillon, a Colwood-based musician, received a nomination for South Asian Music Recording of the Year for his song “Afsos.”
Many may remember Dhillon from recent news due to his West Shore home being targeted in an attack. In September, 2024, a suspected gang member from Winnipeg set fire to Dhillon’s vehicle and shot a firearm at the house.
The Southern Residents are the third of the Vancouver Island nominees at this year’s Junos. They are nominated for Traditional Roots Album of the Year for their album Folk Signals.
Their album blends traditional folk and bluegrass instrumentation with heartfelt storytelling rooted in BC’s landscapes and natural beauty.
This year, the 55th Juno Awards will take place at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario on Sunday, March 29th.
The live nationwide broadcast of the event will be available on CBC, CBC Gem and globally on CBC Music’s YouTube channel.
